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This week's Peak Performer: Gabby Purnell, Mesa Ridge basketball

By: JUSTIN SHAW preps@gazette.com

March 10, 2014Updated: March 10, 2014 at 7:25 pm

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Mesa Ridge High School's Gabby Purnell lead her team to a victory against D'Evelyn High School in the quarterfinals of the 4A Girls Colorado Basketball State Championship Monday, March 10, 2014. Gabby Purnell scored 22 points and and had three assists during the quarterfinals. Photo by Mason Trinca, The Gazette

Gabby Purnell was determined not to let that same terrible feeling happen to her and her Mesa Ridge teammates in the Class 4A girls' basketball state quarterfinals.

The senior point guard remembered vividly how it felt to get eliminated in a 54-33 loss to Pueblo South last season in the quarterfinals after the Grizzlies started 25-0.

"She took it personal when we lost in the round of eight last year," Mesa Ridge coach Jeff Beatty said. "We wouldn't be where we are without her. She's the important key factor that makes us go."

Purnell was going at full speed when she scored 22 points in Mesa Ridge's 47-41 win over D'Evelyn on Saturday at the Denver Coliseum to help the Grizzlies improve to 26-0.

On a team full of weapons, Purnell is the floor general. Beatty says she calls most of the offensive plays and is the one who makes sure everyone is where they need to be on the court.

"I go out there and look at what the opponent is giving us, and then call the plays based on what the other team is trying to do against us," said Purnell, who averages 13 points and five assists. "My teammates know I'm hard on them sometimes, but it's out of love. I have confidence in my team, and that showed Saturday. We're all excited to make it this far, and we're prepared."

Purnell is used to seeing defenses collapse into the paint to try to shut down Mesa Ridge's two talented post players - Kylee Shook and Sami Rudd.

When a team decides to make Mesa Ridge beat it from the outside, Purnell is more than happy to oblige.

"We're so well balanced that every team is going to attack us a different way, which has led to our guards scoring more," Beatty said. "You pick your poison with us, and they picked Gabby as their poison."

It wasn't a good choice for D'Evelyn, as Purnell went 9 for 11 from the field and torched the Jaguars' defense all night.

Mesa Ridge is into the state semifinals for the second time in school history - 2011 being the other. There's a familiar face awaiting the Grizzlies on Thursday night - Pueblo South.

"The fire from last year is definitely still there, and we're ready for our revenge," Purnell said. "This year we're more prepared and we have more experience. We knew that we were going to meet them at this time. We didn't look ahead, but we knew who we wanted to see in the final four, and we got it."

An important note about the rematch is that Shook - the Grizzlies' top scorer and rebounder - didn't play in last year's loss due to injury.

Beatty has seen Purnell grow as a player the past four seasons, and says she's at her all-time best when it matters most.

"She works so hard, and her determination since last season has been intensified," he said. "She was great last year and came back this year even better. She's a huge reason we're moving on."

Related:

Ghassan Nehme, Cheyenne Mountain
In a double-overtime thriller, Nehme led the Indians to an 84-81 win over Thompson Valley in the Class 4A quarterfinals with 41 points. With Cheyenne Mountain down three with 20 seconds left in the second overtime, the senior hit a 3-pointer and was fouled, completing the four-point play to give his team the lead for good.

Chase Megyeri, Manitou Springs
Megyeri sent shock waves throughout the 3A state bracket when he buried an NBA-range 3-pointer to stun No. 1 overall seed Jefferson Academy. With the clock winding down, Megyeri calmly drained the long shot with a defender in his face to send the Mustangs to a 36-35 upset win and a berth at the 3A state quarterfinals.

Alex Greenly, St. Mary’s
The junior scored a game-high 39 points in a losing effort for the Pirates, who fell 85-79 to Denver Science and Tech in a 3A regional title game. Greenly scored 32 in regulation and added seven more in overtime.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Shelby Megyeri, Manitou Springs
The little sister of Chase Megyeri, Shelby also led the Mustangs to the 3A state quarterfinals with a big performance. After scoring 14 points in a first-round win on Friday, the freshman carried the Mustangs with 21 points in a 42-37 win over Grand Valley on Saturday to send Manitou Springs to the Air Force Academy.

Shelby Patterson, Peyton
Patterson led the Panthers back to the 2A state quarterfinals with two balanced efforts in regional games. She tallied 17 points, four rebounds and four steals in a 72-38 win over Fowler, and then added 10 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals in a 60-39 regional title win over Rye.